The Cine Technician (1943 - 1945)

March.— April, 1943 THE CINE-TECHNICIAN 27 entitled to be paid for working overtime. When required to remain on location on a Sunday without being called, employees are guaranteed a minimum of 8| hours' pay. The salary schedule lays down the minimum weekly rates for the 89 principal technical grades, the general levels of which are : — £2 : 10 : 0 (Clapper Boy, Sound Loader, etc.) 10 : 0 (Sound Camera Operator, Boom Operator, First Camera Assistant, Second Assistant Director, Continuity Girl, First Projectionist, Librarian) £15 : 0 : 0 (Sound Recordist (Mixer), CineCamera Operator, Unit Production Manager, Editor, Art Director) 0 (Lighting Cameraman). £6 0 £30 The rates for Sound Recordist, Cine Camera Operator, and Lighting Cameraman are qualified by experience on three pictures, prior to which the minimum rates are £12:10:0 for. the first two grades and £25 for the Lighting Cameraman. Rates for the other specified grades vary between the above levels and provision is made for negotiation of rates for grades not mentioned in the agreement. Daily rates are a minimum of a quarter of the weekly salary with a minimum of £1:1:0 per day. 20. The supplementary agreement is a war-time one and provides that entrants to the industry shall be 17 years of age or over. For the first three months such trainees shall receive 50% of the minimum rate for the job with a minimum of £2:10:0 per week (plus Cost of Living Bonus), for the next three months 75% of the rate, and thereafter not less than the full minimum scheduled rate. So much for the Agreement. What now? The majority of studio owners and producers will loyally observe it. There may be some who will look upon it as something to be evaded rather than a document to be observed. There is Warner Bros, at Teddington, the only studio not a member of the B.F.P.A. and at present not observing the Agreement. We have got to bring Warners* and any other wayward producer into line : we have got to see that every studio owner and producer observes the Agreement : and A.C.T. members equally must pledge themselves to abide by its terms and not be a party to any attempt which may be made to circumvent it. that may not be difficult now. It may be another story when our serving members start returning and want their jobs back. That will be the testing time when we must see that whatever befalls the industry our Agreement is a rock-bottom standard below which rates and conditions must not fall. Under no circumstances must the bad old days of 1937 and 1938 return, when technicians -worked for starvation wages and for unlimited hours without a penny recompense. We must be determined to ensure that the present Agreement constitutes a first step along the road to a decent industry in which we will be proud to work and to which our serving members will be happy to return after the war, gratified that in their absence we have not let them down. As we go to press Warner Bros, have agreed to observe the Agreement. 10th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING SUNDAY, APRIL 18th commencing at 10.30 a.m. CAXTON HALL WESTMINSTER, S.W.1 (off Victoria Street. Nearest underground St. James Park) All members are entitled to and should attend. Many important policy decisions will be taken and officers elected for the ensuing year. A copy of the Annual Report and Agenda for the Meeting will be sent to each member a week before the Meeting.